Experts suggest MoEF to ensure equity of forest produces

Agartala, Sep 20 (UNI) Experts have suggested to ensure equity of access and control over the forest produces for sustainable natural resource management in the North East.

Talking to UNI here today Programme Officer of Indian Institute of Bio-Social Research and Development (IIBRD) Raktima Mukherjee said after a detailed study on Joint Forest Management (JFM) they have submitted a report to the Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoEF) suggesting to formulate a guideline on equity participation.

''If the authority fails to link survival of the forest dwelling communities with natural resources, the JFM will not be able to yield fruits at the expected level, Ms Mukherjee said.

She also observed that the JFM programme was more effective in eastern India, including Jharkhand, than the southern states with more physical assets.

Ms Mukherjee also underlined that the report had categorically mentioned that despite huge external funding to the south Indian states, the JFM there was not able to build the capacity of sustainable forest management.

''People's voluntary participation in forest protection and livelihood management of the communities out of forest produces is most successful in eastern Indian and the IIBRD recommended to replicate it in other states for sustainable programme,'' she added.

UNI